European Factors to Watch-Shares seen steady at open

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - European stocks were seen opening steady on Monday, although further signs of economic weakness in China and a fall in oil prices were set to keep markets under pressure.

Financial spreadbetters at IG expected Britain’s FTSE 100 to open up by 23 points, or 0.4 percent higher. Germany’s DAX to open up by 22 points, or 0.2 percent higher, and France’s CAC 40 to open up by 1 point, or unchanged in percentage terms.

Asian stocks started a new month on a cautious note on Monday, with the Bank of Japan’s surprise policy easing sparking some buying, although Chinese shares fell.

Chinese shares stumbled lower on Monday after an official measure of activity in the giant factory sector fell to its lowest since mid-2012, offering no respite from the economic drift that has dogged markets for months.